Can opener



July 5,;1927. Y Y 4. 1,634,493

' H. FALLA CAN OPENER Filed June 18; 1.926

INVENTOR ATTO R N EY July 5, 1927.

HEDIiEY FALLA, F MILFORD, NEW' HAMPSHIRE.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed June 18, 1926. Serial No. 116,965.

The object of this invention is to provide a can opener which will make .acut in the end wall of the can, close to the side wall, suitable guiding means being provided, and

means which will turn outwardly the ragged edge of themetal, adjacent to the side wall of the can, incident to the cutting operation. further object is to provide a device of this type which shall include a cutting tool, to and a yoke member to which the tool is pivoted,said yoke member having the particular construction indicated below, in order to provide not only for guiding the tool, but for the positive bending over of the cut edge i adjacent to the side wall of the can.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel con struction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being un- 2o der-stood that modifications maybe made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device Figure 2 is a view in elevation showing the tool as applied to the can, a portion of which appears in dotted lines, the out edge being shown as having been turned over.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, the cutting element being in another position.

Figure 4 the tool, or a portion thereof, in elevation, and showing .a portion of the can in vertical section.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the yoke member detached, and in inverted position. 40 lcarrying out the invention, I provide a tool including the handle 10, the shank 11, and the blade'12, the latter having a cutting edge and a heel portion.

A pivot 13 connects the shank and blade with a yoke of special construction and including the long side portion or arm 14, and the shorter arm or side portion 15, the latter being roughened or serrated on its under side, as shown at 16, in order to prevent slipping action. Connectedor formed with arm 15 is a guide member 17 adapted to contact with the outer surface of the wall of the can, this wall being designated 18, and the implement is thus guided and held in shank portion is pivoted, a downwardly exis a fragmentary view showing position for making the cut in the top or end of the can, close to the side wall. At, the point where the yoke merges into the guard or guide member 17, a shoulder 16 is formed, and the latter rides on the upper edge of the can. I

in Figures 3 and 4 it will be observed that the lower portion'lt of the arm 14 extends downwardly beyond the lower-portion of arm 15, and therefore overlaps the upper edge of the can, and engages the de- 6 pressed top 20, the portion 14 riding along the inner cut edge, sometimes constituting a ragged edge, and bending the latter outwardly to'the dotted line position shown at 21 in Figure 2 and elsewhere. This is an important feature of the invention, for the reason that after the out has been made in a well defined position and close to the edge of the .oan, the cut edge is rendered harmless, so that no injury to the hand of the operator can occur, from this cause. A bevel is formed at 22, and this portion contacts with the cut edge of the top 20, and tends to prevent the latter from curling upwardly to an undue extent. I

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. in a can opener,- a cutting blade and shank portion, and a yoke within which the tending guide carried by one arm of the yoke, for engaging the outer side of the can, the middle portion of the yoke and the remaining arm extending below the lower edge of the arm first named and adapted to engage the outer cut edge of the cantop and bend it over, incident to the cutting operation.

2. In a can opener, a cutting blade and shank port-ion, and a yoke within which the shank portion is pivoted, a downwardly extending guide carried by one arm of the yoke, a shoulder being provided on the under side of said arm adjacent to the guide, the shoulder being adapted to engage the upper edge of a can, the other arm of the yoke extending below the lower edge of the arm first named, and being of greater length, and adapted to bend over the outer out edge of the can top.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

HEDLEY FALLA. 

